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<h1>Generic Nouns</h1>

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<center><span class="summary">Outline</span></center>
<ol>
<li><a href="#part1">Special Expressions with Generic Nouns</a></li>
<li><a href="#part2">Using 「<span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span>」 to say whether something has happened</a></li>
<li><a href="#part3">Using 「<span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span>」 as an abstract place</a></li>
<li><a href="#part4">Using 「<span title="もの - thing, person" class="popup">もの</span>」 as a casual feminine way to emphasize</a></li>
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<h2 id="part1">Special Expressions with Generic Nouns</h2>
We've already learned how to use generic nouns in order to modify nouns <a href="particles3.html#part4">here</a>.  Now we will go over some
special expression used with generic nouns.

<h2 id="part2">Using 「<span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span>」 to say whether something has happened</h2>
When you combine 「<span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span>」, the generic word for an event with 「<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ある</span>」, you can talk about whether an event exists or not.

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（１）　<span title="てつや - to stay up all night" class="popup">徹夜</span><span title="する - to do" class="popup">して</span>、<span title="しゅくだい - homework" class="popup">宿題</span><em><span title="する - to do" class="popup">する</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>は<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ある</span></em>。
<br />- There are times when I do homework while staying up all night.
</p>
<p>
（２）　<span title="ひとり - alone" class="popup">一人</span>で<em><span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行く</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>は<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ありません</span></em>。
<br />- I never go by myself.
</p>

<p>Using the past tense of the verb with 「<span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span>」, you can talk about whether an event has ever taken place.  This is essentially
the only way you can say "have done" in Japanese so this is a very useful expression. You need to use this grammar any time
you want to talk about whether someone has ever done something.
</p>

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（１）　<span title="パリ - Paris" class="popup">パリ</span>に<em><span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行った</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>は<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あります</span></em>か。
<br />- Have you ever gone to Paris?
</p>
<p>
（２）　<span title="おすし - sushi" class="popup">お寿司</span>を<em><span title="たべる - to eat" class="popup">食べた</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>が<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ある</span></em>。
<br />- I've had sushi before.
</p>
<p>
（３）　<span title="にほん - Japan" class="popup">日本</span>の<span title="えいが - movie" class="popup">映画</span>を<em><span title="みる - to see" class="popup">観た</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ない</span></em>の？
<br />- You've never seen a Japanese movie?
</p>
<p>
（４）　<span title="ヨーロッパ - Europe" class="popup">ヨーロッパ</span>に<em><span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行った</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>が<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あったら</span></em><span title="いい - good" class="popup">いい</span>な。
<br />- It would be nice if I ever go to Europe.
</p>
<p>
（５）　<span title="そういう - that type of thing" class="popup">そういう</span>のを<em><span title="みる - to see" class="popup">見た</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>が<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">なかった</span></em>。
<br />- I had never seen anything like that.
</p>
<p>
（６）　<span title="いちど - one time" class="popup">一度</span><em><span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行った</span><span title="こと - event, matter" class="popup">こと</span></em>も<em><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ない</span></em>んです。
<br /> - I've never gone, not even once.
</p>

<h2 id="part3">Using 「<span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span>」 as an abstract place</h2>
「<span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span>」（<span title="ところ - place" class="popup">所</span>） is usually used to indicate a generic physical location.  However, it can also hold a much broader meaning ranging from a characteristic
to a place in time.

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>（１）　<span title="はやい - fast, early" class="popup">早く</span><span title="くる - to come" class="popup">きて</span>。<span title="えいが - movie" class="popup">映画</span>は、<span title="いま - now" class="popup">今</span><span title="ちょうど - exactly" class="popup">ちょうど</span><em><span title="いい - good" class="popup">いい</span></em><span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span>だよ。
<br />- Come quickly.  We're at the good part of the movie.
</p>
<p>
（２）　<span title="かれ - he, boyfriend" class="popup">彼</span>は、<span title="やさしい - gentle, kind" class="popup">優しい</span><em><span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span></em>も<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ある</span>よ。
<br />- His personality has some gentle parts too.
</p>
<p>
（３）　<span title="いま - now" class="popup">今</span>は<span title="じゅぎょう - class" class="popup">授業</span>が<span title="おわる - to end" class="popup">終った</span><em><span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span></em>です。
<br />- Class has ended just now.
</p>
<p>
（４）　<span title="これから - from now" class="popup">これから</span><span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行く</span><em><span title="ところ - place" class="popup">ところ</span></em>でした。
<br />- I was just about to go from now.
</p>

<h2 id="part4">Using 「<span title="もの - thing, person" class="popup">もの</span>」 as a casual feminine way to emphasize</h2>
The generic object noun 「<span title="もの - thing, person" class="popup">もの</span>」 can be used as a casual and feminine way of <a href="particles3.html#part5">emphasizing something</a>.  This is identical to the explanatory feminine
emphasis expressed by the 「の」 particle.  Just like the explanatory 「の」 particle, the 「の」 is often changed into 「ん」 resulting in 「もん」.  Using 「もん」 sounds
very feminine and a little cheeky (in a cute way).

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（<span title="しつもん - question" class="popup">質問</span>）　<span title="どうして - why" class="popup">どうして</span><span title="くる - to come" class="popup">こなかった</span>の？- Why didn't (you) come?
<br />（１）　<span title="じゅぎょう - class" class="popup">授業</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あった</span><em>の</em>。- I had class. (feminine explanatory)
<br />（２）　<span title="じゅぎょう - class" class="popup">授業</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あった</span><em><span title="もの - thing, person" class="popup">もの</span></em>。- I had class. (feminine explanatory)
<br />（３）　<span title="じゅぎょう - class" class="popup">授業</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あった</span><em>もん</em>。- I had class, so there. (feminine explanatory)
</p>

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<div class="small" style="text-align:right;"><pre>This page has last been revised on 2004/12/16</pre></div>

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